1/72 Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.M 4./Pz.Rgt. "Totenkopf" Pz. Gren. Div

The Panzer III was a medium-class tank that, at the outbreak of WWII, was designed to be the primary platform of Germany’s all-conquering panzer divisions. However, with the advent of more heavily armored and up-gunned enemy tanks, the role of the Panzer III became secondary to that of the Panzer IV. The last model to be produced was the Panzer III Ausf.M, which had a 5cm KwK39 L/60 main gun. Among its modifications was a deep-wading muffler with a series of associated hatch seals that allowed fording of water obstacles up to a depth of 1.3m, a significant fording improvement over earlier Panzer IIIs. The hull-mounted smoke generators were also replaced with three 90mm NbK dischargers mounted either side of the turret. A total of 250 new Ausf.M tanks were produced from October 1942 to February 1943.

Dragon Armor is proud to launch a model of a Panzer III Ausf.M. The model is finished in the markings of Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Totenkopf”. This division was an active participant in the invasion of the Soviet Union as part of Army Group South until it was badly mauled in the Battle of Kursk. This elite division took part in the third Battle of Kharkov on the Eastern Front in February 1943, where “Totenkopf” helped blunt the Russian offensive. This tank from 4./Pz.Rgt. is finished in a masterfully painted camouflage scheme of white over a panzer gray basecoat. The worn whitewash is consistent with the wintertime and heavy combat experienced by the formation. The proportion and details of this scintillating 1/72 scale Ausf.M are accurate.